100+ Free PSAP Practice Questions
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Key Facts: PSAP Exam
$499
Exam Fee
TCM Security
3 + 2 days
Exam + Report Window
TCM Security
25+ hours
SOC 201 Training Included
TCM Security
1 free
Retake Included
TCM Security
No expiry
Certification Validity
TCM Security
Non-proctored
Exam Supervision
TCM Security
The PSAP is TCM Security's intermediate-to-advanced SOC certification focused on proactive threat hunting and DFIR. The 3-day practical exam requires you to investigate a realistic corporate compromise, map attacker TTPs to MITRE ATT&CK, and submit a professional incident response report within 2 additional days. Powered by the SOC 201 course (25+ hours). Cost: $499 including 1 retake. This knowledge-prep practice test covers the conceptual body of knowledge; the real exam tests hands-on investigation skills in a live environment.
Sample PSAP Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your PSAP exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which threat hunting maturity model level describes an organization that relies exclusively on automated alerting with no proactive hunting capability?
2A threat hunter is building a hypothesis before a hunt. Which input best drives a TTP-based hunting hypothesis according to the MITRE ATT&CK framework?
3During an investigation, an analyst observes a Windows process with a parent of 'svchost.exe' spawning 'cmd.exe' which in turn executes 'whoami.exe'. Which MITRE ATT&CK technique does this process tree most strongly suggest?
4Which PowerShell command-line artifact in Windows Event ID 4104 (Script Block Logging) most strongly indicates an attacker is attempting to bypass the Execution Policy?
5An analyst reviews Splunk logs and notices a spike in outbound DNS queries from a single endpoint to randomized 30-character subdomains of a single apex domain. What technique does this most likely indicate?
6When performing a host-based forensic acquisition, which approach best preserves evidence integrity for live volatile memory collection?
7Which Windows artifact records the execution of programs even when they have been deleted from disk, making it valuable for proving execution during a DFIR investigation?
8During an intrusion timeline reconstruction, an analyst needs to determine the first time a specific DLL was loaded into a process. Which data source most directly provides this information?
9A threat hunter is looking for lateral movement via PsExec. Which combination of artifacts provides the strongest corroborating evidence of PsExec execution on a target host?
10In Splunk, a threat hunter wants to find all PowerShell processes where the encoded command argument length exceeds 500 characters. Which SPL clause correctly filters for this?
About the PSAP Exam
The PSAP (Practical SOC Analyst Professional) is TCM Security's advanced-level practical exam for senior SOC analysts, threat hunters, and incident responders. Candidates are dropped into a simulated corporate network under active investigation and must proactively identify intrusions, reconstruct attacker activity, and deliver a professional IR report — all within a 5-day window.
Assessment
Performance-based assessment
Time Limit
3 days practical + 2 days report
Passing Score
Not published
Exam Fee
$499 (TCM Security)
PSAP Exam Content Outline
Proactive Threat Hunting Methodology
Hunting Maturity Model, hypothesis generation, TTP-based hunting, OODA Loop, frequency analysis, entropy analysis, and temporal anomaly detection
Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR)
Evidence acquisition order, memory collection, Windows artifacts (Prefetch, MFT, registry, WMI, USB), Kansa framework, PowerShell remoting for at-scale collection
Advanced SIEM & Log Analysis
Splunk SPL (stats, eval, timechart, dc), beacon detection analytics, Sysmon event IDs, Windows Security Event IDs, process tree analysis, anomaly baselines
Attacker TTP Reconstruction (MITRE ATT&CK)
Mapping artifacts to ATT&CK techniques: lateral movement, credential theft, persistence mechanisms, defense evasion (LOLBins, timestomping, log clearing), C2 patterns
Containment, Eradication & Recovery
Containment strategies, eradication of WMI subscriptions/services/scheduled tasks/registry keys, recovery validation before network reconnection, ransomware response
Senior IR Reporting
Executive summary for CISO/board audiences, root cause analysis, incident timeline, IOC appendix, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations
How to Pass the PSAP Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Not published
- Assessment: Performance-based assessment
- Time limit: 3 days practical + 2 days report
- Exam fee: $499
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
PSAP Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PSAP exam format?
The PSAP is a fully practical exam with no multiple-choice questions or flags to capture. You are placed in a cloud-hosted simulated corporate network and have 3 full days (72 hours) to investigate a realistic security incident. You then have 2 additional days (48 hours) to write and submit a professional incident response report. Your performance is evaluated on investigation quality, accuracy, and report completeness.
What is the difference between PSAA and PSAP?
The PSAA (Practical SOC Analyst Associate) is TCM Security's foundational SOC exam covering phishing analysis, alert triage, SIEM basics, and incident documentation — it is a 2-day exam. The PSAP is the advanced successor, focused on proactive threat hunting, DFIR, advanced SIEM analytics, attacker TTP reconstruction with MITRE ATT&CK, and senior IR reporting — a 3-day practical plus 2-day report. The PSAP corresponds to the SOC 201 course while the PSAA corresponds to SOC 101.
What course should I take to prepare for the PSAP?
TCM Security's Security Operations (SOC) 201 course is the designated preparation material and is included with the PSAP exam purchase (12 months access). The 25+ hour course covers threat hunting methodology (including the Hunting Maturity Model and MITRE ATT&CK Navigator), Windows forensic artifacts, data collection at scale with Kansa and PowerShell remoting, SIEM analytics in Splunk, anomaly detection, and practical IR lab scenarios.
Does the PSAP certification expire?
The PSAP certification does not expire. Once earned, it remains valid indefinitely. The exam voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase — you must begin your exam within that window.
What jobs can the PSAP help me get?
The PSAP validates senior SOC and IR skills suited for roles including: Threat Hunter ($90,000-$140,000), Incident Responder ($85,000-$130,000), Senior SOC Analyst ($80,000-$120,000), and Detection Engineer ($95,000-$145,000). The practical format demonstrates real-world investigation capability that employers value more than multiple-choice certifications for operational security roles.
Is this practice test representative of the real PSAP exam?
No — this is a knowledge-prep multiple-choice practice test. The real PSAP is a fully hands-on practical exam where you must actively investigate a compromised corporate environment. This practice test builds the conceptual knowledge base (ATT&CK TTPs, forensic artifacts, SIEM queries, IR methodology) needed for the exam, but you must develop hands-on investigation skills in lab environments to pass the actual PSAP.